Sports Desk
Hamilton: Wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert and Kane Williamson’s 129-run partnership for the second wicket led Blackcaps to a one-sided win over Pakistan in the second T20I at Seddon Park. Seifert scored back to back fifty while Williamson in his comeback match, played a commanding innings and chased down the target of 164 in the final over.
With this win, the hosts have clinched the series by 2-0 with one match to go at McLean Park, Napier on December 22.
Earlier, Green Shirts’ skipper Shadab Khan won the toss and opted to bat first just as he did in Auckland. The decision was not fruitful as Pakistan once again lacked runs from the top-order batsmen.
Emerging Haider Ali (8) and Abdullah Shafique (0) looked hopeless in front of experienced Tim Southee as he dismissed them in space of three balls.
Promoting wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan at the top once again failed as he consumed dot balls but managed to hit fours in regular intervals. He scored 22 off 20, powered by four boundaries. For Pakistan, it was Mohammad Hafeez who slammed his career-best score of 99 to guide Pakistan to a respectable score of 163/6 in 20 overs. ‘Professor’ struck 10 fours and five sixes in his 57-ball innings. Hafeez carried on to play his shots but didn’t get the support from the other end. Khushdil Shah also didn’t get going and was dismissed after scoring 14 off 20. Imad Wasim struck two fours to Trent Boult in the 19th over for his unbeaten 10 runs. Tim Southee was the star for Blackcaps, picking four wickets for 21 runs while James Neesham and Ish Sodhi claimed a wicket each. New Zealand started the chase positively by taking on the bowlers as Martin Guptill and Seifert hit 35 off 20 to provide momentum. The 26-year-old Seifert smacked three sixes in the seventh over off Wahab Riaz and didn’t look back. He was joined by skipper Williamson, who in his comeback match didn’t look out of touch.
Seifert made an impressive unbeaten 84 while Williamson made 57. Faheem Ashraf took the lone wicket of Guptill (21). Southee was awarded player of the match for his four-fer.
